ROTARY AND PROPAGANDA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19384, 20 July 1926, Page 8

ROTARY AND PROPAGANDA.

Sir, —It is pleasing to read of Mr. Hudson's effort at the Chamber of Commerce last week in reference to the American movement called Rotary, The Rotary movement is purely American in sentiment; it is an effort at peaceful penetration and it tends to lessen that sentiment and feeling which does and should exist between Britain and ourselves. The phrase so often used that with fellowship existing between Britain and America peace would be possible here on earth is only a lot of humbug. Has America ever shown the least desire to help us when the peace of the world was disturbed ? Her approved policy stands only for non-interference in European quarrels. If the slogan that Rotary has had removed hurts international feeling, how much more do those many actions of America hurt not only our feelings but our pockets. Her tariff wall, her tourist restrictions, the striking of that medal. "We won the war," her method of debt funding before her States paid Britain tbe ; r debts, her treatment of some of our sportsmen, are only a few that local Botarians may find work in trying to correct or remove. We here must discourage any effort which helps to divert that sentiment which exists between our country and Britain, and Rotary is only one channel where the diversion of this sentiment can be helped. The social side of Rotary could easily have been carried on by the Chamber of Commerce and have the added attraction of being Briti h for Britishers. J. H. BeaLe. 30, Upland Road, July 20, 1926.